Writing in Tongues: Translating Yiddish in the Twentieth Century

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The Samuel & Althea Stroum Lectures in Jewish Studies Samuel stroum, businessman, community leader, and philanthropist, by a major gift to the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, established the Samuel and Althea Stroum Philanthropic Fund. In recognition of Mr. and Mrs. Stroum’s deep interest in Jewish history and culture, the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seat­ tle, in cooperation with the Jewish Studies Program at the University of Wash­ ington, established an annual lectureship at the University of Washington known as the Samuel and Althea Stroum Lectureship in Jewish Studies. This lectureship makes it possible to bring to the area outstanding scholars and interpreters of Jewish thought, thus promoting a deeper understanding of Jewish history, religion, and culture. Such understanding can lead to an enhanced appreciation of the Jewish contributions to the historical and cul­ tural traditions that have shaped the American nation. The terms of the gift also provide for the publication from time to time of the lectures or other appropriate materials resulting from or related to the lectures. A complete list of the books in the series appears at the end of this book. Writing in Tongues Translating Yiddish in the Twentieth Century Anita Norich A Samuel and Althea Stroum Book University of Washington Press Seattle and London © 2013 by the University of Washington Press Printed and bound in the United States of America 18 17 16 15 14 13 5 4 3 2 1 This book is published with the assistance of a grant from the Samuel and Althea Stroum Endowed Book Fund. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. University of Washington Press PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145, USA www.washington.edu/uwpress Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Norich, Anita, 1952– Writing in Tongues : translating Yiddish in the twentieth century / Anita Norich. — First edition. pages cm — (Samuel and Althea Stroum lectures in Jewish studies) ISBN 978-0-295-99296-9 (cloth) — ISBN 978-0-295-99297-6 (paperback) 1. Yiddish literature—Translating. 2. Yiddish language—Translating. 3. Yiddish literature—History and criticism. I. Title. pj5120.5.N67 2013 439'.1802—dc23 2013026551 The paper used in this publication is acid-free and meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48–1984.∞ Lovingly dedicated to Sara Taibl Norich What is translation? On a platter A poet’s pale and glaring head, A parrot’s screech, a monkey’s chatter, And profanation of the dead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This is my task—a poet’s patience And scholastic passion blent: Dove-droppings on your monument. —Vladimir Nabokov, “On Translating ‘Eugene Onegin’” ...